# `DELETE` Statement

__*DELETE syntax*__

+ Syntax and example:
```
~!@// Syntax@!~
DELETE FROM {table_name}
  ~!@[WHERE {condition}]@!~
  [ORDER BY {order_by_expression}]
  [LIMIT {row_count}];

~!@// Example@!~
tidb> SELECT COUNT(*) FROM universe.planets;
+----------+
| count(*) |
+----------+
|       10 |
+----------+

// If you omit the WHERE clause ...
tidb> ~!@DELETE@!~ FROM universe.planets;
Query OK, ~!@10 rows affected@!~ (0.01 sec)
```
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Except that there is no `{column_list}` clause part, the syntax of the other `DELETE` clauses are very similar to `SELECT`, essentially finding existing table rows and then deleting them. If you are not familiar with `SELECT` statements, first return to the preamble course 201.2 Learn SQL from TiDB to learn.